Since the dawn of time, people have been awestruck by the infinite expanse known as the heavens. Filled with mysterious orbs of light, black holes, and other mysterious phenomenon, it is little wonder that we as people acknowledge that the heavens have some level of impact upon our terrestrial lives. Here are just a few of the ways that we marvel at, honor, worship, and even fear the signs and stars in the sky.

Eclipses

Only a couple of months ago, all of Asia was fortunate to witness one of the longest lasting solar eclipses of our century. The breathtaking event seemingly halted the events of the entire world as onlookers gazed heavenward, and the daytime world was bathed in twilight-colored shadow. In India, pregnant mothers who were scheduled for a c-section on that day postponed the surgery, for fear that birth on that day would be a bad omen to their baby. Orthodox Hindus also stayed indoors, due to the energy of the sun being masked. Ancient Chinese beliefs indicate that a total eclipse is a sign of impending doom, and that it signals a terrible upcoming natural disaster. Some cultures even fear that an eclipse is the sign of a coming earthquake. In Taiwan, some people still believe in an old superstition that says that a solar eclipse is actually the sun being eaten by a heavenly dog. (1)

Comets

In March of 1997, a cult called Heaven’s Gate committed suicide by drinking a poisonous cocktail. They believed that the coming of Comet Hale-Bopp was a sign that it was time for them to shed their earthly bodies, and that their spirits would take flight behind the comet, taking them to a higher plane of existence. (2)

In 1909 and 1910, major cities across the world fell into a panic over the appearance of Halley’s Comet, and peddlers sold “anti-comet sickness pills” in the streets. (3)

Ancient times are also full of superstitions regarding comets. Uncivilized people believed that comets were omens of bad fortune, causing cattle to give birth to dead calves, princes to die, natural disasters to occur, and disease and pestilence to sweep across the land. (3)

Astrology

The Babylonians gave birth to astrology, the ancient Greeks developed it further and named the planets after their gods, and the Catholic Church later banned the practice as witchcraft. Today, we still look to the stars for guidance, as almost every daily paper provides a horoscope reading. While it is debatable as to whether or not the study of astrology is a superstition or a science, almost everyone can admit that they believe in the celestial bodies’ influence upon our lives, to some degree. Many people take their horoscope reading very seriously, and even choose their friends and lovers based upon astrological predictions. (4)

Whether you look to the stars for guidance, fear heavenly phenomena, or just simply enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the heavens, we can all admit that there is something mysterious and alluring about the celestial bodies. And no matter how civilized we become, people will always hold to celestial superstitions.

Sources:

1. http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/278447,total-solar-eclipse-wraps-asia-in-darkness-superstition.html
2. http://www.cnn.com/US/9803/25/heavens.gate/
3. http://www.arksky.org/thecomets.htm
4. http://www.seesharppress.com/astro.html